Shows
SexvangelicalsS6E15: Was Keith Green a Cult Leader?This week, Sexvangelicals has teamed up with the I was a Teenage Fundamentalist podcast, to bring you their thought-provoking conversation with Tracey Phalen. She herself was a teenage fundamentalist, and details her experience as a member of the Last Days Ministries. The episode begs the question, was Keith Green a cult leader?
2024-05-271h 23
The Divorcing Religion PodcastThe Cult Sisters - Life in the Last Days Ministries Christian CultThe Cult Sisters - Life in the Last Days Ministries Christian CultDivorced: Last Days Ministries & Evangelical ChristianityThis is a CROSSOVER episode! Listen & subscribe to the Feet of Clay – Confessions of the Cult Sisters podcast for the other episode!My guests today were devotees of the late Christian musician - and cult leader - Keith Green. Sharon Madere (Bennett) and Tracey Phalen (Reed) worked alongside Keith and Melody Green at Last Days Ministries (LDM). Growing up in the 1970s and 80s in my Canadian Pentecostal church, I loved the music and passion of Ke...
2023-11-2257 min
Feet of Clay—Confessions of the Cult Sisters013 - A Little Cult Crazy: Head CoveringsSend us a textThe bible story of Zacchaeus is found in Luke 19:1-9, and here are the first few verses: Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. In our adorable Christian parenting, we taught our kids
2023-07-0524 minFeet of Clay—Confessions of the Cult Sisters012 - Abigail's Story Part 3 - Surviving and Thriving After Bill Gothard's IBLP Cult (Shiny Happy People)Send us a textTRIGGER WARNING! This 3-part series contains discussions and descriptions of arranged teen marriage, spiritual abuse, sexual abuse, sexual assault, domestic abuse, and more. Listener discretion advised - and please take care of yourselves.Tracey and Sharon talk with Abigail Witthauer, a courageous survivor of the cult "IBLP" (Institute for Basic Life Principles), led by Bill Gothard, and featured in the new documentary "Shiny Happy People." Shiny Happy People also told the "real" story of cult celebrities, "The Duggar Family."This episode is the third of a mul...
2023-06-281h 24Feet of Clay—Confessions of the Cult Sisters011 - Abigail's Story Part 2 - Arranged Betrothal & Teen Trauma in Bill Gothard's IBLP Cult (Shiny Happy People)Send us a textTRIGGER WARNING! This episode contains discussions and descriptions of arranged teen marriage, spiritual abuse, sexual abuse, sexual assault, and more. Listener discretion advised - and please take care of yourselves. Tracey and Sharon talk with Abigail Witthauer, a courageous survivor of the cult "IBLP" (Institute for Basic Life Principles), led by Bill Gothard, and featured in the new documentary "Shiny Happy People." Shiny Happy People also told the "real" story of celebrities "The Duggar Family." This episode is the second of a multi-part interview with Abigail. Part 1 is he...
2023-06-211h 00Feet of Clay—Confessions of the Cult Sisters010 - Abigail's Story Part 1 - Childhood in Bill Gothard's IBLP Cult (Shiny Happy People)Send us a textTRIGGER WARNING! This episode contains discussions and descriptions of ritualized child spanking, child abuse, spiritual abuse, and more. Listener discretion advised - and please take care of yourselves. Tracey and Sharon talk with Abigail Witthauer, a courageous survivor of the cult "IBLP" (Institute for Basic Life Principles), led by Bill Gothard, and featured in the new documentary "Shiny Happy People." Shiny Happy People also told the "real" story of celebrities "The Duggar Family." This episode is the first of a multi-part interview with Abigail. You can also listen...
2023-06-141h 13Feet of Clay—Confessions of the Cult Sisters009 - Shiny Happy People, plus the Cult of Keith Green & Last Days Ministries and Bill Gothard & IBLP (could we make this title any longer?)Send us a textTracey and Sharon talk about the documentary "Shiny Happy People" (Amazon Prime), and discuss some similarities between Keith Green & Bill Gothard, and Last Days Ministries (LDM) & the Instituted for Basic Life Principles (IBLP).Link to "Shiny Happy People"https://www.amazon.com/Shiny-Happy-People-Duggar-Secrets/dp/B0B8TR2QV5Link to the song "Open Your Eyes" by Keith Greenhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW2ACyQGJUALink to song "Asleep in the Light" by Keith Greenhttps://www...
2023-06-1450 minFeet of Clay—Confessions of the Cult Sisters008 - Bonus: A Few Moments of VulnerabilitySend us a textTracey's journal entry, after her first encounter with a man beyond her marriage...I found myself sitting across the table from a man whose intellectual and spiritual roots ran far deeper than my own; whose composure exuded that rare blend of wild abandon, yet calm stability; whose very essence reflected, without fanfare, the evidence of a rich array of life experiences. You were no "character", but one who stood at the far end of a path I had just begun to travel. And though our verbal communication stayed somewhat sh...
2023-06-0708 minFeet of Clay—Confessions of the Cult Sisters008 - Virgins and Volcanos - Purity Culture Part 4Send us a textCAUTION! In this episode we talk very vulnerably, honestly and explicitly about sex and our personal experiences. We feel this is not appropriate for younger kids. Regarding teenagers... for those who may have already been influenced by or are struggling with the teachings of "purity culture" and/or fundamentalist principles, our unvarnished real-life experiences may be useful and instructive. Please use discretion.* If you haven't yet listened to the first three parts of Virgins & Volcanos, quit your dilly-dallying and catch up: Part 1: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2078827/12790634Part 2: https://ww...
2023-06-071h 02Feet of Clay—Confessions of the Cult Sisters007 - Virgins and Volcanos - Purity Culture Part 3Send us a textCAUTION! In this episode we talk very vulnerably, honestly and explicitly about sex and our personal experiences. We feel this is not appropriate for younger kids. Regarding teenagers... for those who may have already been influenced by or are struggling with the teachings of "purity culture" and/or fundamentalist principles, our unvarnished real-life experiences may be useful and instructive. Please use discretion.* If you haven't yet listened to Virgins & Volcanos Part 1, you can catch up here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2078827/12790634* If you haven't yet listened to Virgins & Volcanos Part...
2023-05-311h 14Feet of Clay—Confessions of the Cult Sisters006 - Virgins and Volcanos - Purity Culture Part 2Send us a textCAUTION! In this episode we talk very vulnerably, honestly and explicitly about sex and our personal experiences. We feel this is not appropriate for younger kids. Regarding teenagers... for those who may have already been influenced by or are struggling with the teachings of "purity culture" and/or fundamentalist principles, our unvarnished real-life experiences may be useful and instructive. Please use discretion.*** If you haven't yet listened to Virgins & Volcanos Part 1, you can catch up here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2078827/12790634In Part 2 we pick up where we left off la...
2023-05-241h 36Feet of Clay—Confessions of the Cult Sisters005 - Virgins and Volcanos - Purity Culture Part 1Send us a textCAUTION! In this episode we talk very vulnerably, honestly and explicitly about sex and our personal experiences. We feel this is not appropriate for younger kids. Regarding teenagers... for those who may have already been influenced by or are struggling with the teachings of "purity culture" and/or fundamentalist principles, our unvarnished real-life experiences may be useful and instructive. Please use discretion.In this Part 1 we discuss: 1) The "Promise"- remaining a virgin until marriage will give you the healthiest, happiest sex life possible (pssssst - nope!)2) The "Predicament" - what...
2023-05-171h 07Feet of Clay—Confessions of the Cult Sisters004 - Just the Facts (Last Days Ministries and Keith Green)Send us a textWant a little CONTEXT for all the CRAZY?!?!? Tracey & Sharon summarize the Who, What, Where, and When... but NOT the Why. (Yeah, right.)Here's a quick reference list to some of the stuff:***Last Days Ministries (LDM) - Non-profit religious organization founded by Keith Green in 1977; began in Southern California, relocated to East Texas in 1979.***Intensive Christian Training School (ICT) - 10 week course and recruiting program on-site at LDM***Youth With A Mission (YWAM) - Non-profit religious organization founded by Loren Cunningham in 1960***Keith Green (1953 - 1982...
2023-05-1030 minFeet of Clay—Confessions of the Cult Sisters003-B Sharon's Interview on IWATF: "Keith Green Arranged My Teenage Marriage"Send us a textCORRECTION: In this interview Sharon mistakenly says she was with LDM through 1985 - truth is she was there until early 1987. This is a REPEAT of Sharon's guest appearance with hosts Brian McDowell and Troy Waller on their podcast I Was a Teenage Fundamentalist, Episode #076: "Keith Green Arranged My Teenage Marriage” (Keith Green Part 2) https://www.iwasateenagefundamentalist.com/They’ve generously allowed us to share this interview here as a convenience to our listeners. Enjoy!Don’t miss Sharon's brief discussion with Tracey, talking about her experience going back in tim...
2023-05-031h 26Feet of Clay—Confessions of the Cult Sisters003 - Intro to Sharon's Story on 'I Was a Teenage Fundamentalist' (Episode #76)Send us a textIn this short chat, Sharon talks to her long-time friend and cult-sister Tracey about the experience of telling her story publicly for the FIRST time on the podcast 'I Was a Teenage Fundamentalist' with Brian McDowell and Troy Waller (April 28, 2023). Listen to Tracey & Sharon's brief intro, then CLICK BELOW to hear Sharon's FULL ORIGINAL INTERVIEW. "I Was a Teenage Fundamentalist - Episode 76: Keith Green Arranged My Teenage Marriage"https://pod.link/1558606464/episode/82bb238f918a2b45264396bcb66e2d16Correction: In her interview, Sharon said she...
2023-05-0308 minFeet of Clay—Confessions of the Cult Sisters002 - Revisiting the Book "No Compromise, The Life Story of Keith Green"Send us a textLong time cult-sister and dear friend, Sharon, visits Tracey in her home in Knoxville, TN to talk about Sharon's FIRST time (finally) reading through the book, 'No Compromise, The Life Story of Keith Green' by Melody Green. To hear Tracey's background story, check out episode #072 on 'I Was a Teenage Fundamentalist' podcast with Brian McDowell and Troy Waller. CLICK THE LINK BELOW https://pod.link/1558606464/episode/d78b95b0fc8d894b3f7eaf9364f7e964 (Sharon's background story soon to follow on episode #076 of IWATF) "Feet of...
2023-04-3034 minFeet of Clay—Confessions of the Cult Sisters001-B, Tracey's Interview on IWATF: "Was Keith Green a Cult Leader?"Send us a textThis is a REPEAT of Tracey’s guest appearance with hosts Brian McDowell and Troy Waller on their podcast I Was a Teenage Fundamentalist, Episode #072: “Was Keith Green a Cult Leader?” (Keith Green Part 1) https://www.iwasateenagefundamentalist.com/They’ve generously allowed us to share this interview here as a convenience to our listeners. Enjoy! Don’t miss Tracey’s brief discussion with Sharon, talking about the unexpected feelings she faced after doing this interview on IWATF. Our episode #1 here:https://www.buzzsprout.com/2078827/12713444SHOW NOTES FROM IWA...
2023-04-271h 21Feet of Clay—Confessions of the Cult Sisters001 - Intro to Tracey's Story on 'I Was a Teenage Fundamentalist' (Episode #72)Send us a textIn this brief intro, Tracey talks to her long-time friend and cult-sister Sharon about the experience of telling her story publicly for the FIRST time on the podcast 'I Was a Teenage Fundamentalist' with Brian McDowell and Troy Waller (March 2, 2023). Listen to Tracey & Sharon's short chat, then CLICK BELOW to hear Tracey's FULL ORIGINAL STORY. "I Was a Teenage Fundamentalist - Episode 72: Was Keith Green a Cult Leader?"https://pod.link/1558606464/episode/d78b95b0fc8d894b3f7eaf9364f7e964IWATF Episode #72: "Keith Green was one...
2023-04-2011 minFeet of Clay—Confessions of the Cult SistersShort TrailerSend us a text"Feet of Clay - Confessions of the Cult Sisters" is a new podcast hosted by Sharon Madere (Bennett) and Tracey Phalen (Reed), who both worked alongside Keith and Melody Green at Last Days Ministries (LDM). As one-time key leaders in the organization, they go on record about the spiritually traumatic and often damaging influences of the Greens and the multitude of materials (many of which are still available today) published through LDM, including 'The Last Days Newsletter'. Sharon and Tracey each joined LDM as teenagers, where they met and married their respective spouses duri...
2023-04-1501 min
I was a Teenage Fundamentalist. An Exvangelical podcast.072 - Was Keith Green a Cult Leader? (Keith Green Part 1)Keith Green was one of CCM’s most revered and loved music superstars of the 1970s and 80s. Spoiler alert! Tracey Phalen thinks he was a cult leader! She was a member of Keith and Melody Green's Last Days Ministries in the 1980s. She joined as a teenage fundamentalist and left after five years of living and serving on the Texas ranch. In this episode, Tracey shares her story and helps Brian and Troy deconstruct Keith Green and Last Days Ministries.
You can find their podcast here: Feet of Clay—Confessions of the Cult Sisters and follow Trac...
2023-03-021h 20